NSW Police and Thanes Australia Threaten Lithgow Small Arms Museum, a World Treasure

The world famous Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum (LSAFM) in Australia is under threat from a combination of police bureaucracy and French/industrial clueless or hostile management. On August 25, 2024, thieves broke in and stole 27 antique and collectable pistols. At this time 18 of the pistols have been recovered. 

One of the two displays the 27 pistols were stolen from. There were dozens of such displays in multiple rooms in the Museum.

This correspondent visited the wonderful museum in 2019. It is an incredible example of cultural heritage and history. It contained thousands of invaluable historical artifacts of firearms and their technology. Here is a summation from the save the museum site, as of 30 October, 2024:

Following a break-in on 25 August, making national and international news, urgent security upgrades are needed.  Approval for these upgrades has still not been given by the site owner. This is despite their knowledge that the museum’s future is now at risk. Delays and uncertainties regarding site ownership threaten conservation and education on this remarkable site.

NSW Police have ordered security upgrades to protect the historic firearms collection. Three of these are critical for safe-keeping of the historic firearms. Another 14 are necessary before rebuilding of the displays can begin. Without these upgrades, LSAFM risks losing its firearms permits, which would lead to the confiscation of its collection and the death of the Museum. The historic firearms were the Factory’s major product and remain a key drawcard for visitors.

The multinational Thales Group, the building owner, has prohibited any work, even minor cosmetic fixes, from proceeding without their approval.  For the critical security upgrades, LSAFM volunteers worked urgently to submit the highly detailed quotes and specifications demanded by Thales. It has now been over eight weeks without approval. Thales is aware of the financial strain—$5,000 per week for night security guards—and the impact on volunteer morale and stress. 

Meanwhile, the Museum remains closed, and we have no income. The volunteers are eager to start rebuilding the exhibits, but their hands are tied.

Thales is a major technology and defense company partially owned by the French government.  Thales Australia currently owns the property on which the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum is located. The property and the Museum cannot be reasonably separated. There was a in process agreement to transfer the property where the museum is sited, and which is an integral part of the Museum, from Thales to the Museum for a nominal fee. With a change in the administration of Thales, that agreement has stalled.

Empty museum displays while $5,000 a week are spent on security, mandated by NSW police.

It appears the police requirement for security upgrades, combined with either indifference or hostility from Thales Australia management, has placed this cultural treasure in imminent danger of extirpation. The combination of police requirements for security upgrades and the glacial response of Thales Australia management is causing the Museum to hemorrhage cash.  $5000 a week for security is not sustainable.

According to New South Wales law, local police are able to require and enforce security measures for firearms storage.  One of the requirements for collection and display is that handguns be permanently rendered inoperable (primarily by means of welding). This destroys the value of collectable firearms. It was reported to this correspondent an exemption had been granted to the LSAFM in 2019. 

There are two different petitions available for people to sign to let authorities know they believe the museum is valuable and worth saving. One of these petitions is online to the New South Wales Parliament.  When this correspondent clicks on the link, access is denied for security purposes. This petition may be limited to residents of New South Wales.

There is a Global online petition to secure the future of Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum. The global petition appears to be available to everyone. 

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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